Democracy at Risk

Responding to Today's Threats to our Democracy

Authors

  • Conrad A. Braaten Retired ELCA Pastor
  • Martin Hoffmann Germany
  • Paul Wee Lutheran World Federation (1986-1994)

Abstract

The Declaration “Democracy at Risk” (2025) addresses “today’s threats to our democracy.”  Organized as a commentary on biblical texts, the text expresses urgent concern for the rise of authoritarianism. The document substantiates this concern with commentary on key biblical passages: Genesis 1:26, Galatians 3:28, Genesis 12:1, Galatians 5:14, 1 Peter 4:17, 2 Corinthians 4:7, and concluding with Joshua 24:15. Each Scripture text is accompanied by four sets of statements: affirmation, confessions, gratitude, and commitment.

Author Biographies

Conrad A. Braaten, Retired ELCA Pastor

Initiator of the Forgotten Luther Project

Martin Hoffmann, Germany

Retired Professor of Theology

Paul Wee, Lutheran World Federation (1986-1994)

Assistant General Secretary for International Affairs and Human Rights

Retired Lutheran Pastor

Currents Focus

Downloads

Published

2026-06-17

Issue

Vol. 53 No. 3 (2026): Declaring Independence from Christian Nationalism

Section

Currents Focus

License

Copyright © 2023 Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and used by permission. All rights reserved.